Spelthorne

Spelthorne's population increased by about 5,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 96,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Spelthorne increased by 5.8%, from almost 90,400 to 95,600.

The addition of just over 5,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Spelthorne was home to, on average, 15 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Spelthorne

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Spelthorne increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 16.0% of people in Spelthorne are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Spelthorne by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Spelthorne

The percentage of Spelthorne residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.3% to 3.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.4%, while the percentage of Spelthorne residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.7%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Spelthorne

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Spelthorne was among those who said they had no religion, rising 8.4 points.

In 2011, 22.5% of respondents in Spelthorne gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 14.1% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 16.6% to 27.9%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Spelthorne, 63.8% said they were Christian, compared with 75.3% in 2001. About 1.4% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 7.2% to 7.0%.

In Spelthorne, 7.0% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.2% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Spelthorne increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Spelthorne by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Spelthorne, but at a slower rate than in Hillingdon (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Spelthorne).

In Spelthorne, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.7% in 2001 to 12.7% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Hillingdon increased from 9.6% to 18.1%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in Spelthorne remained close to 12.4%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 78.2% to 72.6%.

Private renting in Spelthorne increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Spelthorne, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Spelthorne

In 2011, 7.6% of Spelthorne residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 3.2% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 87.3% of people in Spelthorne said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 94.3% in 2001. About 2.5% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.6% to 1.6%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Spelthorne increased by 4.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Spelthorne by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes without children

The percentage of households without children fell in Spelthorne at a faster rate than across the South East.

In Spelthorne, the proportion of households without children decreased from 62.0% in 2001 to 59.3% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion decreased from 62.2% to 61.7%.

Across the South East, the share of households without children decreased from 62.2% to 61.7%.

The proportion of households with children in Spelthorne increased from 27.8% to 29.5%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 10.3% to 11.2%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Spelthorne working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12.9% to 10.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Spelthorne decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Spelthorne, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Spelthorne residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72.5% in 2001. The percentage of Spelthorne residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.8% to 12.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Spelthorne decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Spelthorne, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Spelthorne residents that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 3.3% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 60.2%, while the percentage of Spelthorne residents that were self-employed increased from 8.6% to 10.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Spelthorne increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Spelthorne, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Living alone in Spelthorne

The percentage of one-person households fell here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Hillingdon.

In Spelthorne, the proportion of one-person households decreased from 29.5% in 2001 to 28.5% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Hillingdon decreased from 28.7% to 25.2%.

Across the South East, the share of one-person households increased from 28.7% to 29.0%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Spelthorne increased from 8.6% to 9.6%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 38.0% to 36.1%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in Spelthorne

The percentage of adults in Spelthorne that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.4% to 11.4% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (50.1%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 53.4% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Spelthorne increased from 28.1% to 31.5%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.6% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Spelthorne residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.5%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Spelthorne remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Spelthorne by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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